Feeling Sad

[Bazthemod]

Sent "Atomic - Alfie" into the garage to get checked over and serviced wee bit sad news :(

There is 4 holes in the subframe that had been covered in carboard and painted. Although the holes are in he pockets? and can be welded.

My chrome wheel nuts are chrome no more because the garage never had a big enough socket for them!? :(

Plastic sill covers have been hiding a multitude of rust.

Oil leak turned out to be a loose nut & bolt, but seeminly it will always leak a little bit. They also said something about getting rid of k&n filter cant remember what the reason was i was just thinking of the previous owner rubbing their hands!

But i promise to take car of Atomic Alfie and treat him proplerly, not like his previous owners!:disapprove:
Other than that hes a sound little Mini.... the resprays on hold!:D

[GAJ]

That is sad news!:( A wee bit of TLC though and he'll soon be better. Looks like you'll have to prioritise what needs done first. Get the welding done, like you say, the respray can wait.

[euan]

When my old man bought his mini, it did uncover a few things that needed doing (new clutch for example although how my dad missed that I'll never know), however now that it's been done it's a great wee car. Just as Gaj says, bit of tlc and it'll be great :)

[Duncan Stewart]

Sorry to hear you have discovered some problems with your mini. But at least they are not too bad - classic minis do take a bit of looking after.
Chrome wheel nuts are pretty useless as when you take them on and off the force cracks of the chrome and they rust (I assume this is what happened). Mine rusted after the first time I took the alloys off & on.
The solution is to fit stainless steel nuts (expensive at about £3 each) or my solution was to re-fit the standard nuts and put push on plastic covers on them.
The problem with K&N filters on carb cars is that they increase airflow but the carb needs a matching new needle to be able to tune the engine properly - they are probably finding the car is running too lean because of the filter (thus low on power). You really need a rolling road session with someone who knows minis to set this up properly (nearest I know is MiniMaster in Penrith) but as the rest of the engine is standard you could try phoning some of the mini specialists who may be able to suggest & supply a best guess needle, thus allowing you to keep the K&N (and that nice induction roar :D)

[euan]

quote:Originally posted by Duncan Stewart
The problem with K&N filters on carb cars is that they increase airflow but the carb needs a matching new needle to be able to tune the engine properly - they are probably finding the car is running too lean because of the filter (thus low on power). You really need a rolling road session with someone who knows minis to set this up properly (nearest I know is MiniMaster in Penrith) but as the rest of the engine is standard you could try phoning some of the mini specialists who may be able to suggest & supply a best guess needle, thus allowing you to keep the K&N (and that nice induction roar :D)


Duncan, what about on fuel injected minis? will the same be true then? My old mans one has a Pipercross on it and I just wondered if he should be doing anything.

[Burple]

quote:
Duncan, what about on fuel injected minis? will the same be true then? My old mans one has a Pipercross on it and I just wondered if he should be doing anything.


Nope... THere's nothing to do on the Fuel Injected ones... Although I would imagine a decent manifold and exhaust would only help things!! ;):D

Had a K&N on my SPi Cooper for 4 years.... ran sweet as a nut and passed every MOT (except for the one where the Catalytic converter ate itself cos someone bump started the car...):blackeye::blackeye:

[euan]

It has a sports exhaust on it too - the thing sounds brilliant.

[Burple]

quote:Originally posted by euan

It has a sports exhaust on it too - the thing sounds brilliant.



Mmmm....
That's pretty much what I had.. K&N and a stainless single box large bore Playmini system from the Cat back... Luvvvveeerrrly!!! :D:D:D:D:D
Heh.. The manufacturers top speed for them was about 95 mph I think? Had mine up at an indicated 110!! - On a private stretch of road of course...):D

[Duncan Stewart]

90mph actually ;)(the trainspotter is back! :D).
As LnL says it is OK. The injection system can adjust itself to compensate for the increased air intake of the freeflow airfilter.

[Bazthemod]

Do any of you know if the leather 'Cobra' seats are comfy?

Look good in the mags, rio interior may get the chop yet lol:D:clown::I

[euan]

I fear for my life in the little thing at anything near 70 :) It feels like it's shaking to bits.

I've not sat in those seats but they do look the business.

[Burple]

quote:Originally posted by Bazthemod

Do any of you know if the leather 'Cobra' seats are comfy?

Look good in the mags, rio interior may get the chop yet lol:D:clown::I


YES!!

I had similar ones in my YELLOOOOOOW! classic...
They're pretty damn comfy.. so long as you don't have a HUUUUGE ass ;) but remember if they're high back ones, then you won't be getting anyone in the back seat!!! ;);)
and you'll need custom made subframes to fit them in...

:)

[Bazthemod]

Really like the look of them so if they are comfy too then bonus!

Rio interior is starting to annoy ... so im off to rob a bank to pay for the bloody thing getting fixed! :clown:

[Duncan Stewart]

quote:Originally posted by low_n_loud1
They're pretty damn comfy.. so long as you don't have a HUUUUGE ass ;) but remember if they're high back ones, then you won't be getting anyone in the back seat!!! ;);)

I don't fit in bucket seats anymore :I
highbacks are a pain as they hit the roof if you try to tip them to let folk in the back, you could always replace the back seat with a big stereo set up :D.
If you are selling your seats I could be interested.

[broken_brian]

get the high back seats and get some 4 point race harnesses that way no one will ever ask for a lift again :cool:

[Duncan Stewart]

quote:Originally posted by broken_brian

get the high back seats and get some 4 point race harnesses that way no one will ever ask for a lift again :cool:

You remind me of my mates classic mini - road-hog body kit, 1380cc, low back bucket seats, harnesses, roll cage - we gave a student hitch hiker a lift from Leuchars to St Andrews and when we dropped him off he said "If you ever see me hitch-hiking again, please don't pick me up!" :p:eek::D